The Rev. Dr. Dennis Tierney, Rector

The Rev. Dr. Jan Heller, Assisting Priest

The Rev. Dr. Judith M. McDaniel, Assisting Priest

The Rev. Patricia Robertson, Assisting Priest for Contemplative Ministries

The Rev. Nancy Tiederman, Assisting Priest

The Rev. Dan Fowler, Deacon

Sr. Dorothy Kiest, Mother Guardian—Little Sisters of St. Clare

This summer, I did just two weddings. The first was over Memorial Day weekend and the second in mid-June. The first was a gay wedding in which two men pledged their love and devo-tion to each other in front of God, family, and friends here at Saint Barnabas. As a gift from the couple, I received a “rainbow” stole that represented the LGBTQ movement.

The second wedding was done in Newport, Rhode Island, and was the marriage of a former parishioner who re-connected with her college fiancé and, after 41 years apart, finally married him. That wedding took place at Trinity Epis-copal Church, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and features a two-story pulpit. I wore my “gay pride” stole for that wedding but for different reasons. The principal reason was the murder of 49 people in the nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando, Florida, which occurred between the dates of the two weddings. Somehow, the tragic event in Orlan-do, coming as it did between these two joyous occasions, highlighted the profound tensions that exist in our society over issues of who loves whom, who is privileged, who is marginalized, and who is part

C H U R C H

S T A F F

Paul Roy |

Director of Music

Julie Houck |

Bookkeeper

Kathy Irvin |

Parish Administrator

Fred Meredith |

Sexton

Amy O’Brien |

Day School Director

Carrie Corns |

Day School Asst. Dir/

Registrar

Kristi Barr, Candace Beck,

Sandy Dreiling, Mary

Feeney & Elsa Trail |

Teachers

T H I S I S S U E

Rector’s Ruminations 1-3

News from Senior Warden 4-5

New Titles in the Library 6

Birthdays | Office of

Evensong | August Events 7

News from Parish Admin 8-9

Pictures from Annual Picnic 10

The Chimes

(Continued on Page 2)

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Clergy

The Chimes

Summer 2016

The Chimes

R E C T O R ’ S R U M I N A T I O N S

O F S T . B A R N A B A S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H

B A I N B R I D G E I S L A N D

P a g e 2 T h e C h i m e s

R e c t o r ’ s R u m i n a t i o n s

Continued on Next Page

of our society. These events, in some ways deeply connected and in other ways completely disconnected capture, at least for me, a number of complex and challenging social, emotional, and theological issues that form our contemporary American dilemma.

I have noted earlier that one oddity, for me, of the killing of gay and lesbian and transgendered persons in Orlando, is that the perpetrator was himself a marginalized person not fully accepted by mainstream society and, who, it appears, may have been questioning his own sexual identi-ty. Even though he had been born in the United States, he did not seem to fit in. It is unclear as to whether his misfit status was due to personal quirks or to his appearance or to his religion or to his uncertain sexual identity, or to some combina-tion of all of the above. What is clear is that someone who was not perceived as a mainstream person took it upon himself to purchase a weapon de-signed to kill, then selected a target group, and then murdered other peo-ple deemed outside the mainstream of our American society. For it is abun-dantly clear that for all the progress we appear to have made regarding mat-ters like marriage equality or equal employment or non-discrimination on the basis of sexual identity or gender, LGBTQ people suffer significantly at the hands of mainstream society. They are often at risk for rape, murder, physical assault, psychological isolation, abuse, denial of services, and general prejudice of all kinds. That, in the Orlando incident, they were murdered by a person who also felt marginalized, makes it all even more bizarre and incomprehensible.

Trying to make sense of it all reveals the American uncertainty and confusion over guns. Peo-ple have argued that this tragedy in Orlando is a gun problem. They call for the exclusion of semi-automatic weapons, which have a primary purpose to kill quickly and efficiently. Others argue that more guns should be sold, carried, and used to prevent future massacres. Others argue it is a problem about prejudice against LGBTQ people. They call for renewed efforts to enhance protections under the law for these people and for increased action against those who promote hate crimes. Others argue that it is an immigration problem, even though the killer was born in the United States. They argue that we must close our borders to people not like us and remove those “different” people from our midst.

Some argue it is a religious problem – arguing that it is God’s punishment on a nation given over to sin because we have accepted openly people of differing sexual identities. Others argue that it is really about one hateful religion – Islam – that preaches hatred of those who are diffe-rent. Of course, these folks ignore the groups within the Jewish and Christian and Buddhist and Hindu religions that preach hatred and vengeance against people who are different. It is all quite complex and very confusing.

S u m m e r 2 0 1 6 P a g e 3

R e c t o r ’ s R u m i n a t i o n s

Early efforts to zero in on gun control as a first response appear to have been treated as many other legislative efforts about guns — with absolutely no success. The masterful domination of Congress by the National Rifle Association seems as absolute as ever. The companies that make guns, and the stores and individuals that sell them report record sales and, therefore record profits with each public slaughter. Even as public opinion polls indicate overwhelming support for some form of gun control and even as fewer Americans hunt or shoot or even own guns, the Congress remains resolute in its disinterest in legislating the sale, licensing, or ownership of almost all guns. Our legislators are willing to control drones, birth control, and the licensing of dog groomers but not guns and who owns them and who uses them.

All that said, one theme united the two homilies I preached at these two weddings. Both weddings were about the eternal redemptive power of love. In the first case, these two men could never have gotten married in previous years and would have had to conceal their love for each other in so many ways. Their love would not have been recognized by the outside world. But now it is. Marriage, with all of its joys and challenges, is currently open to all adults. Against much remaining prejudice and ongoing uncertainty, their love won out. My message to them was: “love wins.” It does not win easily; there are and will be many fits and starts along the way, but love wins.

The second couple also knew that love wins. Sometimes it takes 41 years for it to win out, but love wins. Love has astonishing power to change us, to embolden us to take risks, to renew us, to breathe new life into us if we allow it to do so. That notion of the eternal redemptive power of love is at the core of our Christian belief. Jesus stepped into the maw of power and revealed that death could not stop love. And when Christ Jesus returned to the living, his first words were, “be

not afraid.” He never chided his followers for their incon-stancy. He simply invited them back into a loving rela-tionship. Love won then, love wins when we let go of our fears and step into God’s eternal and perfect love, and love will win in these conflicts now and in the future.

I think of these 49 people, murdered for being who they were, as modern martyrs. They believed in a world in which we love as we will. They believed in a world in which differences are celebrated because they show the vast expanse of God’s love for all creation. They believed that behavior that is joyful and open and ac-cepting is a positive thing. They believed that God loved them just as they are – knowing them deeply and loving them anyway. They died, but love wins. We will die yet love will win. “Love never ends.” Saint Paul was so right when he wrote that. “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now we know only in part; then we will know fully, even as we are fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” Love wins.

Dennis+

T h e C h i m e s P a g e 4

N e w s f r o m t h e s e n i o r w a r d e n

As I mentioned in a recent issue of the SENIOR WARDEN WEEKLY,

Vestry met with the Canon to the Ordinary, Marda Steedman Sanborn, to

discuss the search process. (The Canon is the Bishop’s top staff person

and manages all transition issues). We will receive ongoing guidance

from the Diocese throughout this period of transition, and contact with the

Canon will be ongoing.

I know that many of you are wondering where we are in this process and would like to un-

derstand what to expect and the timing of things. I will try to paint the picture with broad

brushstrokes and provide a general overview. It is my hope that we will all move through

this journey together as family. Please understand that the following is a very basic timeline

and description of the work to be done:

2016

August

Appreciation events for Dennis & Grace

Canon to the Ordinary will be present and represent the Bishop on August 28th

September

Work with the consultant provided by the Diocese, Deacon Stephen Crippen,

whose role is to guide and help us as needed

Develop questions for the Parish Survey

Gather demographics about the current Parish

October

Jan Heller begins serving as Interim Priest

Work with Holy Cow Consultants (provided by the Diocese) for

developing Parish Profile

Conduct Parish Conversations and the Parish Survey

Tally the results of the Parish Conversations and the Parish Survey

November

Write copy for the Parish Profile with input from consultant as needed

Design the Parish Profile with input from Canon Marda and/or consultant

December

Complete the Parish Profile

Present the Parish Profile to Vestry for approval

Present the Parish Profile to the Bishop for approval

S u m m e r 2 0 1 6 P a g e 5

2017

January

Present the final Parish Profile to the Parish at the Annual Meeting

Present the Search Committee to the Parish

Post the Parish Profile on the website

February

Search Committee begins their work

It is unknown how long the work of the Search/Call Committee will take, but it is expected

to take at least three months. By the time we have identified and called our next Rector, it

is expected to then take some time for that person to be able to find housing and move

here. So it would not be unreasonable, I believe, to expect that it will be at least a year be-

fore St. Barnabas will have a new Rector in place. In fact, I would not be surprised if we

are looking at a target date of September 2017, if all goes smoothly.

I must admit that when I first learned that Dennis was retiring, I felt compelled to jump in

and get to this work of finding a new Rector without delay. I have come around to recon-

sider this more carefully. Vestry has discussed this at length amongst themselves and with

the Canon and has made the decision to “slow it down” and be very deliberate, thoughtful

and prayerful about this important work of identifying and calling a new Rector to St. Bar-

nabas. Vestry is committed to doing everything possible (and then some) to exhaust this

process fully, respectfully and with deep consideration. It has been said, “We don’t want to

fall in love too fast; we will fall in love truly.”

It is critical that we take the time to just be who we are as a congregation and enjoy that

time. It is our time to allow for our identity to become clear in who we are and what we

want and where we are going and why. It is our time to be prayerful about this together

and to be still in the knowledge and love of God and of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

With great appreciation for each and every one of you,

Virginia

P a g e 6 T h e C h i m e s

N e w T i t l e s i n t h e G o w e n L i b r a r y

Come visit our quiet, comfortable church library and check out these new titles:

Conflict, Holiness, and Politics by Marcus J. Borg (232.9/BO) – “…A perspective on

Jesus in the social context of his day.” – Themelios

The First Paul, Reclaiming the Radical Visionary behind the Church’s Conservative

Icon by Marcus J. Borg (227.7/BO)

The Heart of Christianity, How We can be Passionate Believers Today by Marcus J.

Borg (230/BO)

Jesus, Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary

by Marcus J. Borg (232.9/BO)

Gemini by Carol Cassella, a Bainbridge Island author (Fiction) – “Her beautifully

crafted story explores the unbearable fragility of the human body, and ultimately

celebrates the sturdiness of the human spirit.” – Susan Wiggs

The Oxford History of Christian Worship edited by Geoffrey Wainwright and Karen B.

Westerfield Tucker (Ref./264/WA). Please note the “Ref.” in the call number. This

book has been placed in the Reference Section of the library located to the right of

the video system rather than on the “New Books” shelf.

Songs to a Watchful Lover, a Journey through the Psalms by Donna Hardy (223/HA)

Deep Living by Roxanne Howe-Murphy (158.1/HO) – Transforming Your Relationship

to Everything that Matters

Psalter for the Christian People, edited by Gordon Lathrop & Gail Ramshaw (223/LA)

As One Unknown, Sermons by J. Barry Vaughn, Rector of St. Alban’s Episcopal

Church Birmingham, Alabama (252/VA)

Just War Theory - A red folder with articles on the stand the Episcopal Church takes

on "Just Wars" has been placed in the Reference section of the library. This gives

some insight into what is considered just and an important aid in how we might deal

with this subject. These articles have been donated by The Reverend Nancy

Tiederman.

DVD – St. Barnabas 50th Anniversary, 1996 It can be found on the right

side of the shelf under the video screen.

For more information, contact Barbara Herrick, herricks99@msn.com.

Office of Evensong

Women’s Schola Nova Choir sings

the Office of Evensong at 6pm on

the 2nd Sunday of each

month. Come hear traditional plain-

song, anthems, psalms and chants.

Let the grace of sung prayer refresh

you for the week to come.

1 Maggie Ball, George West

2 Charlie Bullock

3 Margaret Norander, George Brooker Jr,

Thomas Dunning

4 Melissa Marshall

5 Jim Carlisle

6 George Cole, Robyn Ellis

7 Mark Lawrence

9 Dave Thorne, Brodie Lawrence

15 Espen Ruud

21 Kathryn Houchen

23 Serena Dubach, Anne Christina Ruud, Si

mon Hodge

25 Pat Schader, Lawrence Killigrew

28 Joan Collins, Tim Duffy

29 Sylvia Dunning, Kira Davis

1 Sally Black

2 Betty Hulbert, John Donnelly

4 Ed Ellis III

5 Jan Heller, Genevieve Kramer, Charles

Marshall

8 Kathleen Jennings

10 Phil Hodge

11 Jerry Collum, Ned Thorne

14 Seth Ruud

15 Susan Kerr, Jack Bullock

17 Kaela Cole, John Baker, Patrick Miller Jr.

18 Nick Herrick, Jerry Dennon

23 David Abbott, Dennis Tierney

25 Tom Berg

28 Anne Dennon, Inga Olson

30 Kristen O’Keefe

P a g e 7 S u m m e r 2 0 1 6

August Events

Sunday, August 14 – Newcomers

Luncheon at 12:30 pm at Ann

Powel’s home

Saturday, August 27 – An Evening

of Appreciation for Dennis & Grace,

5:30pm, Parish Hall

Sunday, August 28 – The Gratitude Coffee Hour, in the Parish Hall after 10am worship (Dennis & Grace’s final service with us)

P a g e 8 T h e C h i m e s

Hearty Thanks First of all, let me thank each and every one of you for your kind and sin-cere welcome to the St. Barnabas community. What an amazing group you are! I thoroughly enjoyed coming and bringing my family to the St. Barna-bas Day service and fellowship events in June. I am in awe at how active and involved the St. Barnabas parishioners are - not only in the life of their own church - but also in the community at large - Rotary, Kiwanis, the His-torical Society, counseling services, etc.

Learning As I Go As many of you know, I am new to this sort of role and am learning as I go. So I also want to thank each and every one of you for your patience as I

learn the ropes and get more proficient in my tasks. Please don’t hesitate to call or email me if you have thoughts on how to improve our work in the church front office. I see this time of transition as an opportunity to make improvements on how we operate.

Importance of Communications My background is in communications and I believe in it wholeheartedly, most especially in times of change and transition. The bulk of our communications now are through the St. Barnabas web site (www.stbbi.org) and via email. Here is a summary of how we are trying to keep you posted on what is happening:

Service bulletins: We include church and appropriate community news in the service bulle-tins each week. If you have an announcement that you would like to share with the church community, please email it to me by Tuesday at noon in order for it to go into the next ser-vice bulletin. If you can’t make it to services any given week, you can always access the bulle-tin (as well as sermons) on the web site under the “worship” heading.

Email newsletter: We also prepare news highlights in a weekly email newsletter that goes out on Fridays. If you would like to be added to the distribution list for this, please email me and I will happily add you in. Sample copies of this newsletter can be found in the Church Par-lor as well as at the Welcome Table.

Senior Warden Weekly: Our wonderful Senior Warden, Virginia Walker, has started a news-letter designed to keep everyone apprised of developments regarding the transition related to Father Dennis’ retirement as well as regarding the plan to install an elevator in the church. This newsletter is also sent out by email. Hard copies are on display in the Church Parlor.

Chimes newsletter: As many people are getting their news through the service bulletins, weekly email newsletters, and the Senior Warden Weekly, we have turned the Chimes news-letter into a quarterly publication. It is also posted on the web site and available in hard copy in the Church Parlor. We have a small mailing list for it as well for those folks who don’t have access to the internet or email. If you or someone you know would like to receive the Chimes, please let me know.

News from the Parish Administrator

P a g e 9 S u m m e r 2 0 1 6

St. Barnabas web site: Our church web site offers a wealth of information about what is happening at the church and how we are organized. Please take a few minutes to explore it.

And finally, I wanted to let everyone know that I will be out of town on vacation August 3-12. As a result, I will be preparing the August 7 and August 14 service bulletins early. A hearty thanks to Joan Collins and Honora Dunkak for offering to volunteer at the front desk while I am away.

Blessings to all,

Kathy Irvin

Meet Kathy’s family:

Husband Tom and dog Daisy (at right)

Daughters Sara (15) and Katie (12) below.

How to contact me

Email address: kathy@stbbi.org

Office phone: 206/842-5601

Office hours: Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,

except Wednesdays, 10:30-2:30 p.m.

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

1187 Wyatt Way NW | Bainbridge Island | WA 981

206-842-5601 | www. stbbi.org | info @stbbi.org

P i c t u r e s f r o m t h e A n n u a l P i c n i c

J u l y 2 4 , 2 0 1 6

C o u r t e s y o f C h u c k K i r c h n e r